Recycled Beach Toys!

I hope everybody is having a great summer!  If you're planning a trip to the beach with your friends, here's a cool idea for making your own sand shovels.  Reduce, reuse, recycle!

The Brink of Extinction

Extinction is when a particular species of animal is dead and gone from our planet forever (like the dinosaurs or the dodo bird).  The case of the Asian Crested Ibis is a hopeful story about an animal saved from complete extinction!

The Crested Ibis makes its home in the wetlands of Asia.

Due to habitat destruction, the Crested Ibis was on the brink of extinction.  In 1981, there were only 7 of these birds known to be alive in the wild!

Conservation programs were put in place to protect nesting areas, prohibit logging and stop the use of agrochemicals for rice farming.  In addition, Japan and China both began Ibis breeding programs to  help increase the number of birds in the safety of captivity.

Human activity was the direct cause of the Ibis's brush with extinction, but thanks to conservation, the Crested Ibis is making a comeback!  By 2002, there were approximately 140 birds living in the wild.  Today, there are more than 500!

Ten Crested Ibis are released into the wild in 2008.

Can you name some other animals that are currently in danger of extinction?  What is being done to help those animals survive in the wild?

Learn About Biofuels!

A biofuel is any fuel derived from biological matter.  Here are some examples:

GASOLINE & PETROLEUM
The most commonly used biofuel today - made from biomass that died millions of years ago (think dinosaurs and ancient jungle growth!)  Also, the leading cause of global warming.  Hmmm...  What are some other options?

CORN
Yup, fuel made from corn!  Emissions are lower, but not by much.  Growing all that corn may also require more energy than it actually produces.

SUGAR CANE
A totally sweet fuel!  Fuels made from sugar cane crops can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 56%!  A big success so far in Brazil.

SWITCHGRASS
This amazing plant turned biofuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%!  Some kinds of switchgrass can also remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the ground.

USED COOKING GREASE
The cooking oil used to deep fry things like french fries and chicken wings can be recycled into fuel!  Fuel made from used cooking grease releases fewer gases and is a great way to REUSE something that would have been thrown away.

KELP
Scientists have recently found that seaweed can be used for fuel as well.  Breaking down the sugars in kelp can create five times as much ethanol as corn.